Teams ready to fire up

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 29, 2005

There are dance floors, DJs, lights, moonwalks, scores of people, cold beer and fantastic barbecue - but these steps were at their earliest stage Thursday afternoon.

"It's not set up yet," said Terry Griggs, who has led his cooking team, Smoke-n-Poke, at the Pasadena rodeo for 15 years. Griggs promised the lots would be picture-ready Saturday night.

The barbecue pits that can hold 20 briskets and the large tent that was offering some shelter from the uncharacteristically sweltering September heat foreshadowed a fantastic time to come this weekend.

Corey Cantrell of the Rocky Hollow Cookers was busy grilling the team's entry for the cooks' choice: stuffed crawfish etouffee and chicken.

"It's a family ordeal," said Cantrell, who also works for the city of Pasadena. "We've been doing this for six or seven years now."

Jesse Salazar and the Bandito Kookers were also among the teams setting up Thursday afternoon, preparing for the cooks' choice award that was to be decided Thursday evening.

"This year we're going to take first place in all categories," laughed Salazar, among teammates Frank Rios, Robert Rosas and Pete S. Perez Jr.

The Bandito Kookers, sponsored by the Dog House in South Houston, have rented two spaces to accommodate the estimated 400 people and the live band that will be in attendance over the next couple of days.

While many groups join the annual cook off for the glory, the Bandito Kookers join for their community. This year alone, at least six fundraisers sponsored by the group have helped raise funds to generate scholarship money for schools or financial help to those in the community for funeral expenses or hospital bills.